Locking device for differential gears.



G. W. KING.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR DIFFERENTIAL GEARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, I9I4- Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

SI wue'n-Ilot J a C e. w. KING. LOCKING DEVICE FOR DIFFERENTIAL GEARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, I9I4- Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

fLCEwu WlQ l JUN 1 I mach pivirn snares rarnrvr nitr c.

"enoneaw. KING, or RIO seamen, TEXAS.

LOCKING Louvres F03 DIFFERENTIAL Gears.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

ApplicationfiledMarchyZ. 1914. Serial No. 828,892.

Tdal libhom it may concern: a Be it known that I, Gnome 'W. KING, a

citizen of'the United States, residing at Rio Grande," in the-county of Starr; State of Texas, have invented certaln new and'use'ful Improvements in Locking Devices for Differential-Gears and I do hereby declare the I "following to beai'ull, clear,'and exact de scription of the invention such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertainsto make and use thesame.

This invention relates to lockingdevlces for differential gears adapted especially t'or use in connection with automobiles using the full float1ngtype ofrear axle.

In the use of automobiles it does not infre quently happen that one of the sections of the rear axle-becomes broken, damaged or otherwiseput outof connnission whenit is undesirable tofurther sub ect the broken or damaged section of the axle to the driving strain of the connecting differential.

' i in the provision of a locking device of the tionp With the abovezand other objects in. view character referred to so constructed and arranged that it can be associated with little expense with anrautomobile rear axle and differential of ordinary andusual constructheinvention consists in the details of constructlonand in the arrangement and cornbinatio'n of parts to 'be herelnafter more fully describedand particularly pointed out.

intheappended claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings whereln "like characters ofrefei ence denote corresponding parts in the sev GI'EIl 'VlBWS, and m wh1ch-- Figure lisa longltudlnal SECtIOIlHlJViQW thi ough atheltlifierentialgear10f an automo Patented' l an. 11:8 :19,161, 1

bile and showing the invention applied; Fig; 2, a section on the line. 2"-2 of'Fig.;1,'the

elements of the locking device in this view being positioned to permit free rotation ol" the adjacent axle section; Fig. 3,;aview similar to Fig. 2 showing the elements of the locking device positioned to secure the adjacent axle'sect1on against rotation; Fig.

4c, a se'ction on the line t-dof Fig. 3; Fig.

5, a view in elevation of the beveled gear fixed on the inner end of each axle section;

111g blocks employed in the invention ;Fig". 7, a section on the line 77 of Fig. 2,-and

F 6, a perspective view of one of the lock;

Fig. 8, a sectional view disclosing the hinged cover which is adapted to be lockedin posi tion to prevent access to the lead screw of i the device for the purpose of operating the :1

screw to dispose the parts of the device in locking position with respect to the adjacent axle section.

Referring to the drawings A indicates, generally a differential gear in which is 111- cluded the inner ends of adjacent axle sec-"'1 1310115 lOand 11 0f a full-floating typeof rear axle, said inner ends of the axle sections being of square cross section for a purpose that will presently appear. Thediffe r ential gear A further includes beveled gears 12 fixed on respective axle sections 10 and 11, a gear casing 13 rotatably mounted on-* hubs 1 1 formed on respective gears 12 pinions 15 rotatably mounted on the casing 13 and meshing with the gears 12, anexternal beveled gear 16 fixed on the casing 13, an'da beveled: gear 17 meshing with the beveled-*- gear 16 and fixed on the usual drive shaft" 18, said drive shaft 18 being rotatablyenJ gaged in a fixed casing 19 surrounding the differential gear A and of the usual anld' 'i well known construction.

As the locking devicesassociated with the: 5

axle sections 10 and 11 are identical "in every respect only the locking device associated with the axle section 10 willbe'def scribed in detail and the reference characters employed will be applied to correspond I ing parts of the locking device associated with the axle section 11. hub 14 remote from the beveled gear 12' fixed The: end of the on ltheliaxle section 10 is squared as at 20 while a locking block C is slidably mounted between the guide members 22. Correspondmg gulde members 21 and 22 are provided with longitudinal slots 23 through which project respectively ears 24 and 25 formed on the locking blocks B and C. These ears 2% and 25 are provided respectively with reversely threaded openings 26 through which is engaged a lead screw 27 provided with oppositely threaded portions 28 and 29 and having its terminals rotatably'mounted in the casing 19.

Formed on the ends of the lead screw 27 exteriorly of the casing 19 are heads 30 suitably shaped to permit the application of a Wrench for the purpose of rotating the screw. Pivoted upon the outer side of the casing'19 adjacent each end of the screw 27.

is a hood 31 adapted to be moved into covering relation to the adjacent head 36 and secured in such position by a locking device 32 whereby access to either of the heads 30 for the purpose of rotating the screw 27 is prevented. When it is desired to rotate the screw the device 32 may be readily unlocked by the proper person and the hood or cover 31 swung on its pivot to permit the desired accessto the head 30.

The adjacent ends of the locking blocks B and C are oppositely reduced as at 33 and 34: respectively and these reduced portions are provided with recessesto form arms 35 and 36 which are adapted to pass into embracing relation with the squared portion 20 of the hub 14 when the blocks B and C are moved toward each other which will efliectually lock the shaft section 10 against rotation. At the same time the arms 35 and 36 pass into embracing relation to the squared portion 20 they will also pass into overlapping relation with respect to each other with the ends of the arms 35 and 36 of the block B disposed between the fixed to its corresponding axle section, it

will be apparent that if the inner end of on the usual housing bearing, well known in connection with full-floating axles. The locking of the inner section of the broken axle will thus permit the ditterentlal to work to effect the operation of the other rear wheel, or that on the unbrokenshaft. While one particular form ofcarrying the invention into practice has been lllustrated and described various modifications and,

changes can be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is w 1. The combination with rotatable axle sections, a differential gear connecting said sections, and a fixed member overlying the adjacent ends of said sections, of means carried by the fixed member and engageable respectively with the axle section to lock the latter against rotation.

2. The combination with rotatable axle sections, a differential gear connecting said sections, and a fixed member overlying the adjacent ends of said sections, of a pair of locking blocks slidably mounted on the fixed member adjacent each axle section and adapted to interlock with the-latter. when moved toward each other to secure the axle section against rotation, and means for moving the blocks of each pair toward and away from each other.

3. The combination with rotatable axle sections, a differential gear connecting said sections, and. a fixed member overlying the adiacent ends of said sections, ofa pair of locking blades slidablyv mounted on the fixed member adjacent each axle section, spaced arms on the adjacent ends of said locking blocks adapted to move into embracing rela tion to a squared portion of an adjacent axle section and into overlying relationwith respect to each other, and means for moving the locking blocks of each pair toward and away from each other.

a. The combination with rotatable axle sections, a difierential gear connecting'said sections, and a fixed member overlying the adjacent ends of said sections, of spaced guide members mounted on the fixed memher on respective sides of each axle sec-.

tion, a locking block slidably mounted between each pair of guide members, a pair of locking blocks 'cooperatingwith the same axle section and having their ad acent ends oppositely reduced and recessed to form-,.

tions, a cliflerential gear connecting said sections, and means for locking either of said sections against rotation.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

' GEORGE W. KING.

arms adapted to move into embracing relation With a squared. portion of the adjacent axle section and into overlying relation With respect to each other, and means for moving said locking blocks toward and away from each other.

5. The combination of rotatable axle seclVit-nesses:

HENRY G. BRIGHT, HARRY M. Tns'r.

Copies of this Patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

